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1/14/2021 1 Comment

Howie's Tech Space

Hello all, welcome to the first entry into my own little blog about technology.

I’m not going to promise you that I’ll be the next big tech guy like Linus Tech Tips or anything like that, but I can promise you honesty about the stuff I review and talk about here on my page.

For the most part I’ll go over things I see the potential to use in my day to day life, and go over how it’ll benefit me. Now not to alienate my audience base, I do plan on having a questions section so that those of you who do have questions will be able to ask me, and I will provide a thorough answer or recommendations depending on what is asked.

I will do my best to go over all the key points and also the minor points too so you all can gauge how whatever I’m talking about or going over can be a benefit for yourselves. For the most part I’ll be discussing the latest in gaming gear, some smart home products, and mostly anything I’ve been able to get my hands on or that I’ll be seriously considering purchasing in the future.

Stay on the lookout for my first posting which will be coming shortly!

- Howie

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1/7/2021 0 Comments

Welcome to 2021

I was at work when I heard the news about what was happening at The Capitol Building.

It sounded like something out of a movie.

And as I sat there for maybe like 5 seconds in disbelief, the first thing I was able to say was "Our life is a meme."

That's what we will be remembered as in the future if the good does not take a stand.

We all saw the videos. We all saw the violence that occurred. We all witnessed American History.

But this American History will not be kind to those who are bad. The Evil. The ones who want to invoke hate.

Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Constitutional, ALL that bullshit is out the fucking window. That shit is over with. There ain't no fucking sides anymore.

It's only Good vs. Bad.

All that political bullshit, save that shit for the government who could give two fucks about you and your family. They showed that in 2020 so fuck all of those in power who allowed all this hate to be perpetuated into our lives.

All that anger. All that hate. All the violence. That shit is done.

We're tired of saying "Let's grow together."
We're now saying "If you ain't good, get the fuck out my house."
We're tired of saying "Treat others the way you want to be treated."
We're now saying "If you don't treat people right, you fucking suck."

This land is ours. All of ours.

Yeah there's a lot of bad people doing bad shit. But we can clearly see that there is more good than bad in this country. They are now the minority and they can't stand it.

They hate that nobody hears their voice. They hate that they didn't get their way. They hate that democracy is working.

But guess what baby, your time is up.

All the good hearted people will come together. Regardless of political, religious, orientation, color, or whatever other fake ass box THEY want to put people in.

We are one.
We will not be defeated.
We The People.

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9/4/2020 0 Comments

Vote Them All Out

PSA BEFORE READING:

If you are not registered to vote and you are eligible, what are you even doing?
Go to vote.org and register to vote and check your voter status. It literally takes 5 minutes.

Since I turned 18 years old, I have voted. At the city, state, and national levels. I learned in my American Politics class in high school how important voting was.

I'm thinking back on that class and I realize most kids didn't take it serious. Or were raised in households that already formed their opinions on political preferences.

And to some extent, I had my own pre-conceived notions that I had learned in my environment. But I learned that my direct environment is vastly different from some kid in Iowa or Texas or Minnesota.

I remember some of the things I said specifically that I'd like to take back as I've grown and learned much more. I told my teacher that I thought she was a Democrat because "She acted like one" (I actually said that to her face, not my bet moment). And I told the class that Republicans are stupid and will believe anything (Also not my best moment).

But since I had the opportunity to vote I have. I turned 18 and voted for Barack Obama. But not because I'm aligned with some political party, but because I truly believed he was the best candidate.

His ideals aligned with some of the things I believe in. But I won't get into my ideals politically. But I will leave you with one thought...

For as long as we can remember, our parents can remember, our grandparents can remember, our great-grandparents can remember, there have been only two political parties in The White House. Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

So you're telling me, that for over hundreds of years there have only been two types of political beliefs? That for over hundreds of years, there hasn't been a single person from a "third-party" with ideals aligned with those that were for the betterment of our great nation? That for over hundreds of years, people have just decided to pick the lesser of two evils when it comes to choosing the President of the United State of America?

I don't buy it! This duopoly is formed in a way so that they can continue to control the narrative. They feed off of each other. They build upon the hate each side has for each other. They're not trying to fix the country. They're not trying to make it better.

They thrive on the fact that you sit on your phone and blame the other side for ruining this country. They love when you got to that political party convention and wave your American flags and say "We're the TRUE Americans."

Well guess what, you can end the duopoly. You can stop these political organizations from continuing to run our country into the ground. Theres bad and corrupt people on both sides. Just look at what happened during COVID. Find me one government official who handled this in a way that we can look up too. Nobody. Not one.

They all fucked up. Either they put the economy first and eventually had to go on quarantine after it was too late with virus outbreaks. Or they went on quarantine early and thousands of people lost their job and the government had no real plans of helping them.

So when you vote, just remember to vote for someone you truly believe will do a good job. Not because you align with one party or the other. You're an American. You have the right to vote for the person who will do the best job.

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7/8/2020 3 Comments

5 Reasons "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is the Most Transcendent Children's Movie of All-Time

I usually don't like doing shit like this. Writing "articles" that is just a list of reasons for something. But I had to get your attention somehow, so here we are.

I chose my words very wisely when creating the title. I was going to say "of the 21st Century." But I figured I'd lean all the way in on my claim.

I've yet to see EVERY children's movie ever made, so if you have some suggestions, please shoot them my way.

A brief history of my admiration for Spider-Man. I was introduced to him as a kid when my dad bought the extensive collector's edition DVD set of the original 1967 television cartoon series. (This set now goes for $250+ new and $120+ used)

What's crazy is that even he isn't that old. The show came out before he was born, but still ran on television once he got old enough to watch and understand.

It effected him in such a way that it stuck with him some 40 years later. They even had to recreate the show in color because it was originally aired in black and white.

After we watched the entire series together, it became very clear to me that this was the best version of Spider-Man ever created. The original. He had no competition, even if Stan Lee was the one recreating him every time. This hero was a legend.

So as time went on, I would watch the new Spider-Man movies and television shows, but they never could touch the original Spider-Man.

Until now...

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is one of the most unique takes on how to recreate a superhero character. It breaks down social, racial, and gender barriers all across the board.

It teaches you multiple lessons, while keeping you captivated with action. Let's swing into it.

5. Teaching children the inevitable truth about death

This one is number five because we've seen death occur in many children's cartoons. But the only one I would be able to compare this too is in the original Transformers cartoon movie when Optimus Prime dies in the first half of the movie. That was just some fucked up shit.

In this movie, our beloved superhero dies, and the entire state of New York mourns his death together. A man who was always trying to do the right thing was murdered at the hands of Kingpin.

A villain who is a "businessman" (better described as a crime lord) who would stop at nothing to achieve everything in not only his world, but spanned across multiple universes. His greed and selfishness nearly ended reality as they knew it... Sound like someone familiar?

Minutes into the movie, he breaks Spider-Man's neck with his bare hands. A gruesome scene that catches the viewers by surprise. You never think the superhero would get murdered, but in a strange way it is a good lesson.

No matter how much you stand up for other people who can't stand up for themselves, you will still find yourself fighting a fight that will most likely end in violence.

They murdered Malcolm X. They murdered Martin Luther King Jr. They murdered Tupac.

But the death of one Spider-Man led to the rise of many. Similar to what we're seeing in our world today. The wrongful death of one man can spark change for the whole world.

4. Presence of female villains and superheros

Once again, this isn't new. But it's the manner in which they present it.

There's a scene when Peter Parker is explaining to Miles Morales how they're going to take down Doctor Octopus (Doc Ock) and he keeps saying "He" when referring to the scientist. Miles then interjects and tells him that the scientist is actually a woman. Peter proceeds to say "Step Four: I re-examine my personal biases."

This is where we're at in today's America. How easy would things be if people just "re-examined" their personal biases? Women are always put into a box by the media, movies, and society. This is just one small feat, but they put it in there for a reason.

The only reason we think certain jobs are for certain genders is because that's what we're taught. And in this universe, Doc Ock is a woman. And she's a fucking badass.

Another strong female presence is Spider-Woman aka Gwen Stacy aka Wanda aka Gwanda. She found her way into this universe and fights to save the Multi-Verse. She is one of the more powerful ones in the group, and definitely the most caring.

Her experience helps Miles' open his mind to his true powers, and she also helps the other Peter Parker understand his place as role model.

3. Miles' mom speaks Spanish

For any idiots out there who say "Speak English because you're in America" YOU'RE IGNORANT. There is no national language in America, and Spanish is second most spoken language in our country.

They not only made Miles' mom hispanic, but they let her speak her native language to her family. The only time we've seen cartoon characters speaking Spanish in American cartoons is in Dora the Explorer.

Now we're talking about a large scale movie for children that breaks down those barriers of "English is our national language." It's not.

She plays the mom role up just like any other great mom we've seen in these movies. She listens to her son when he's hurt, holds her husband accountable when he isn't being a good enough role model, and even gets mad like a real mom when Miles isn't ready for school.

And it doesn't look like Miles is going anywhere, so y'all better start breaking out that Google Translate.

2. They denounce Nazis

OK, find me a children's cartoon movie that denounces Nazi's and I'll reconsider my claim about this movie.

Nicolas Cage plays a Spider-Man from the 1930's that is better known as Spider-Man Noir. His quote is both hilarious and admirable.

"In my universe it’s 1933 and I’m a private eye. I like to drink egg creams and I like to fight Nazis. A lot."

Once again, we're seeing a correlation to our world today. There are still people who believe in this Nazi agenda. I saw a guy at Costco the other day who had "NAZI" tatted on the back of his bald head. So don't tell me it doesn't exist. This guy was in public, so just imagine how many of them are out there hiding, waiting for their moment.

In this iteration of Spider-Man, he doesn't just fight crime, he fights an entire terrorist organization that is a threat to all of mankind.

It's vitally important or the youth to always know the horrific things Nazi's did to the world. For ignorance is NOT bliss. So I commend Marvel immensely for bringing up this topic, even if it is just one line of the movie. I hope kids everywhere said "Mommy, who are Nazi's?" And I hope every parent was honest.

1. Miles Morales is Black and Hispanic

The glaringly obvious, BOOM right in your face, reason why this movie is so transcendent. We have seen Black superheroes. We have seen Hispanic superheroes. But I will explain to you why this is different.

As I said before, I love the original Spider-Man. I never wanted him to change. But this all went out the window when I watched this movie and his story.

Not only did we get a hero of color, we got a completely new version of Spider-Man. It's not some new superhero that happens to be Black or Hispanic. It's the same character we know and love, reinvented to be a role model for minorities.

We're used to seeing similar racial households as well. Black parents, White parents, Hispanic parents. But this is different. His dad is Black and his mom is Hispanic. A mixed household that gave birth to a kid that can save the world. He's bilingual, biracial, and has a budding love story with a White girl who happens to be Spider-Woman.

So for all the people who say "I don't see color," you better open your fucking eyes because this kid is full of color. It's all about being inclusive, and celebrating that our country is built upon the fact that we have so many different races that bring different backgrounds of beautiful culture.

This movie dives into even more issues we have in our country, including the lives and biases of police officers. (Miles' dad is in the Police force) But we'll leave you with those five reasons.

If you can find a more transcendent children's movie, let me know! I'd love to watch it with my kids!

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7/3/2020 0 Comments

I'm Still American As Fuck

I've been seeing a lot of stuff about people not celebrating Fourth of July this year because of the civil unrest, social injustices, and COVID. And trust me, I get all of that.

If you don't want to celebrate, then that's your right. You feel like Why should I should celebrate a holiday for a country that doesn't care about everyone regardless of their race, gender, or skin color?

I'll be the first one to say that this country is fucked up. We got a million problems on top of all the problems we're trying to fix in 2020.

If America was in the NBA Finals, we would be down 3-1 right now. But as we've seen before, that doesn't mean its over for us. We finna come back bruh, don't sleep.

Anyone who has ever know me has known that I am American as hell. For those who don't know, I'm Mexican and Filipino, so I'm brown as hell.

As I've gotten older, whenever people ask me
"What are you?" I reply with "American."
"No, I mean like where is your family from?"
"Northern California."

And then after I'm done being a smart ass, I tell them my race. I've tried to begin to break down those walls. Because in my mind, we're all American. You can be proud of your heritage but still be proud to be American.

I know this year has shown our country's true colors, and has a lot of you not feeling proud to be American. The American Dream is not a figment of our imagination. It's real.

There's so many countries that you could have been born in that would have given you a much tougher life. Shit is truly fucked up right now, but we're just gonna act like our country isn't beautiful?

Donald Trump has dreams of a huge wall separating us from Mexico. He has dreams of ending "illegal" immigration, when our country was built (and continues to thrive) on immigration. Not just from Mexico.

It would be easy for any of us who have ever felt oppressed or not spoken for to be like "Fuck this shit, I'm moving to Canada."

But you know what, FUCK THAT! I ain't going no where. My great-grand parents moved here from the Philippines to give their family a better life. And that was passed down all the way to me and my kids.

Our country is the land of a million problems. But what are we gonna do about it? Just stop celebrating our country’s independence because we don't like where we're at?

NO! Thats why we see the youth in the streets standing up for what they believe in! They're standing up for their rights and beliefs because this country gives them that right and ability.

They're standing up for the right to be American. To be accepted as an equal. That's what makes this country great. That our younger generation is saying "Enough is Enough" and that it's their time to say what's right.

So on the Fourth of July, you better believe I'm wearing my Lebron James Olympic jersey with my American flag swim trunks and my red, white and blue Vans and my American flag socks. Because just like when Lebron was down 3-1 to the Warriors, he fought back and took what was his.

This is OUR country! OUR land that WE built! OUR people are the reason this country can be great!

WE THE PEOPLE!

We're in this together, but it's still COVID so stay the fuck away from me.

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3/31/2020 1 Comment

Be Like Tom Haverford

So I was watching "Parks and Recreation" for the tenth time through, and for the tenth time I drew some knowledge.

The show is hilarious and is full of life. At this point in my life, I realized is that it's not about the fun times they had or all of the shenanigans they got themselves into. It was truly about a group of people coming together to do good things for their selves, each other, and their community.

They built lifelong relationships so that they could create a better future for everyone around them. But also, for their own self health and wealth.

If I could be like anyone on that show, I would have to be a Tom Haverford. Not just because I kinda look like him, but because he's a dreamer.

In the series finale, Tom had dreams of turning his restaurant into a nationwide chain. He ultimately failed at another one of his business ventures.

As he laid on his couch sulking, mourning about what he had and lost, his wife tells him that he will figure it out. Because he always does.

He turned his failures into a book "Failure: An American Success Story."

And that title right there is poetry.

What have you really done in your life if you haven't failed? Being as bold as Tom's character is something to strive for.

You haven't even really gone for something big if you've never felt a sense of failure.

If you're an essential worker in this time, I just want to say thank you for all your doing. You're holding this country together!

And for all you non-essential workers, I hope y'all are staying your happy asses at home! Because that is just as important!

But what's important is that you do something worthwhile with your time. Now that doesn't mean you can't be lazy and just enjoy life for a bit. There will never be a time in your life when you'll be able to pretty much do nothing with little responsibility. So enjoy it.

However, you should at least start planning for that thing you've always wanted to do. Time has always been the thing holding you back, right? Well now you've got nothing but time.

At least until the end of April, at the absolute earliest. Like, we haven't even ended March yet. We got a long way to go.

Start that art project. Study for that Real Estate exam. Practice your craft. Utilize the resources you do have, especially the internet. Clean for your fucking house.

I can't begin to explain how many of you I see making Tik Toks in a messy ass house. Have some decency. And be clean, please.

You can binge watch Netflix whenever, you do that already in your normal lives anyway. Take a break from the normalcy, and try something that you might fail at.

Have the courage to do what you've always wanted to do, but felt like you didn't have time for.

Be like Tom Haverford.

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2/22/2020 0 Comments

Come Create Irrelevance

It's difficult to cherish every moment of every day. We all go through tough times where we wish for better days.

And we all handle the every day struggles of life differently. Everyone has their outlets that help them get through the day.

And for us over here at Under The Irrelevance, writing is our outlet.

And it could be yours, too.

For those who just don't know us personally, all of our content is produced by Anthony Vallesteros. He received his bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in Communications in the Mass Media. He took multiple courses on writing, media, and social media.

He started his own blog in 2012 which led to getting recruited to be a contributor for a sports website. There, he learned the ins and outs of what it takes to be recognized as a writer in the online community.

He took what he learned from there and built this website which has been a platform for ideas, opinions, and culture. But now, he wants to continue to give back to the online community through the use of writing in the digital medium.

Under The Irrelevance, up until now, has been the sound of one voice. But they say it takes a village to raise a child. And in this case, it takes a community of voices to build a safe space for forward thinkers.

My best friend sent me a video today about a guy who survived three point blank shots from a shotgun. He talked about escaping death, and the out of body experiences he felt while he fought for his life.

He brought up multiple times how lucky he was to be alive, and how happy his family was to have him still standing.

It really put everything into perspective for me. We are all only going to be on Earth for a short amount of time. And any day could truly be our last.

So why not do something to help the community around you? Why not be a part of something? Something bigger than you. Something that not only helps you grow, and creates an outlet for you, but could also change other peoples lives without you even knowing.

You never realize how your story can impact others until you put yourself out there for the world to see.

So I ask you, Do you want to be a part of something bigger? Do you want to learn how to share your ideas, art, and maybe even your feelings in a way that makes you more transparent than ever?

Come be a part of something bigger here at Under The Irrelevance.

If you would like to be a contributor for our site, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]

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1/25/2020 0 Comments

What is You Doin'?!

Complacency
noun.
1. a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

This image is you looking at your past self, asking why you wasted all those hours living in complacency.

A feeling of quiet pleasure or security sounds like a good thing. Being in your own zone. You’re totally cool, calm, and collected. Yet in life, it can be a dangerous comfort zone.

Living in complacency never gets anyone anywhere. Staying in your comfort zone keeps you from taking chances, and reaching for those goals that you’ve been setting for yourself. Unless your goal is to continue working the same job, or having the same boring life, or eating the same boring food, or whatever it is that keeps you telling yourself “Well, this is good enough for me.”

When you live in that state of mind, you are oblivious to the potential danger around you. The definition makes it seem as if the danger is yet to be seen. But it is clear that living this way is dangerous in and of itself. You spend hours complaining that you want your life to be better, yet you don’t put in any effort to actually move forward. You are perfectly fine with feeling sorry for yourself.

Your self-satisfaction with your current situation allows you to trick yourself into thinking you’re actually happy with where you’re at. When people follow up with you about the goals you set for yourself, you find yourself spilling out excuses for why you haven’t accomplished what you said you would. When in reality, you have made conscious choices to avoid your goals as much as possible because you have told yourself you can’t do it. Which in turn, actually makes you believe that you’re right.

A “condition” often is in reference to a state of one’s health. Being in a state of complacency is not a condition, it’s a choice. It is not a disease, a doctor can’t write you a prescription for it. And although it is not airborne, it is extremely contagious.

Look at who you are surrounding yourself with. The friends you have are all just as complacent as you are. They tell you that what you’re doing in life is fine. When you fail to reach your goals, they believe that all your excuses are valid. They too, are living in complacency. And it’s contagious.

You need to realize that you are in control of your own choices. And that you can stop living in complacency, and start living in a constant state of growth. All you have to do is make the decision to stop being comfortable.

Breaking out of your comfort zone is the healthiest choice you can make for yourself right now. And seeing how it’s the beginning of the new year, you might as well add it to your resolution for 2019.

If you have friends who are living in complacency, tell them. If you’re a real friend and you care about the growth of those close to you, tell them that they’re doing themselves a disservice by not reaching higher. Hold them to the standard that you should hold yourself too.

Let’s redefine what living in complacency means. Your comfort zone should be a dangerous one because of the chances you’ll take on yourself. You may sometimes run into failure, but that’s better than not trying to better yourself at all.

Welcome to 2020, where our resolution is one.

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1/15/2020 0 Comments

It's Freezing Outside

Whenever it gets under 50 degrees in Central California, we assume the world is freezing over. Whenever there is a thin layer of ice on our car windshield, we think we're in the movie The Day After Tomorrow.

And whenever rainfall lasts longer than twelve hours, we break out the flood warnings. If a snowflake were ever to find its way here, people may just start evacuating the entire Central Valley.

As I sit here in my multiple layers of clothing, wrapped in a blanket, with my heater cranked to 76 degrees, I'm thinking about how eskimos ever existed. Maybe they still exist, I'm not sure.

But one thing I do know is that they were fuckin' trippin'. The "mind over matter" was real. The ability to bare the elements and still be able to not only survive, but create a living for themselves, is unfathomable.

The real reason I bring this up is because I'm really just wondering what a real winter is like. Snowfall, zero degree weather, snow tires on my car, all things we will never experience here in the valley. What is it about being comfortable with where we're at keep us from moving away when we get older?

Is it because we don't want to be away from our family and friends that we grew up with? Is it because we're afraid we might fail in a new environment? Is it because we think life will be so drastically different that we won't be able to keep up?

Whatever it is for each individual who stays in the same general area that they were born and raised, it all comes down to one thing. Fear of change. It's the one thing that most of us have in common, the fear of what's on the other side of a new challenge.

Now there's nothing wrong with staying where you're from. You don't need to make a change that drastic to grow. But making one small change for the better everyday could eventually lead to a drastic change in your life.

Today it may be deciding to drink one more glass of water a day and tomorrow it may be to read a chapter of a book everyday. And if you continue with your new changes, hopefully in a year or so you'd be drinking nothing but water, and you've had read multiple books and expanded your library.

Regardless of what changes you want to make in life, it all starts will small changes here and there. And once you get into the right state of mind where you are constantly seeking out change, you will eventually find yourself in the position you always imagined you would be.

The weather may look bad today, but just look at your forecast and realize that clear skies are coming soon.

Unless of course, you love cold weather. In which case it's only going to get better... or worse? I don't know what you cold weather people like.

Here was an ice cold banger...

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11/24/2019 0 Comments

Your Protest is Not Convenient

On Saturday, November 23rd, students from both Harvard and Yale took a stand.

During halftime of the football game being played between these two schools, a protest was put on urging both schools to divest from fossil fuels. Other issues regarding climate change and Puerto Rico were also a part of this protest.

But we're not here to talk about the things they were protesting. Yet the immediate response from both schools and the Ivy League itself regarding the protest itself.

The game was delayed for a little over and hour, and about 20-30 protesters were arrested for trespassing. In any sporting event, it is illegal to go onto the field without permission. So the arrests were warranted given the circumstances.

The response however, was in their own words "Regrettable." Which is what the Ivy League deemed the protest.

The game was still going on and Yale officials made a comment saying that they "Stand firmly for the right to free expression." Sounds good right? But then they followed it up with "The exercise of free expression on campus is subject to general conditions, and we do not allow disruption of university events."

I'm sorry, what? A football game is being considered more important than world issues that could possibly have a lasting effect on the Earth itself.

Yale had the announcer state to the protesters "As a courtesy to both teams, the game must resume." The game?! These people are taking a stand for something real. Something that could affect our children.

It seems befuddling to me that two schools such as Harvard and Yale would stand against something like this. People speaking passionately about something they believe in. Their own students.

It almost makes you wonder what the schools themselves think a protest is. A protest is not supposed to be convenient. Protesters are not supposed to give you a time and place of their protest.

The whole point is to be an inconvenience in order to get the point across. This protest and the response just proved the protesters' point. These higher ups will do whatever it takes to shift the conversation to something else.

Instead of responding to what was being protested, they turned the protesters into the bad guys.

It's everything that is wrong with this country and the state of our government itself. Everyone has an opinion on Hong Kong fighting for freedom against China, when we don't even have freedom ourselves.

People tend to think that other countries should follow our fight against oppression, when we're the ones still being oppressed. We're talking about Hong Kong and their fight against privacy and the right to more information, but do you think you really have those things here in this country?

You have a lot more than most countries, yes. But moments like this make you realize that they're still against us. They don't want us to rise up because they fear what could happen.

Their dreams of an economic heaven on Earth would be shattered if we fought together for Earth itself. Their longing for more power would be killed.

So they continue to turn the story on us as the bad guys. The people fighting for something are the ones who are killing this country, and they project that message through media outlets. They make us fight each other instead of them.

Democrat, Republican, Green Party, it doesn't fucking matter. They just group all of us up to divide us.

And until people realize that, we're all going to be fighting for the wrong reasons.

I commend those students who took a stand today, and I thank them for displaying what truly means to be American.